Olea consists of small to medium-sized evergreen trees characterized by their simple, opposite, leathery foliage. The flowers appear in terminal or axillary panicles, are small and whitish, and give way to a drupe that can be ovoid, oblong, or globose in shape.

Olea

Olea aff. dioica

Olea capensis

Olea capensis subsp. welwitschii

Olea europaea 'Aglandau' is a hardy evergreen tree characterized by its greyish-green foliage and oval, fleshy fruits. This ancient cultivar hails from the Alpes de Haute Provence and is primarily cultivated for its olives, which are used in pickling and oil production. The olives start as green-pink and mature to a deep purple. This variety demonstrates resilience in slightly cooler climates compared to others. For optimal harvest, gather green olives in October and black olives or oil from November to December.

Olea europaea 'Aglandau' (F)

Olea europaea 'Amfisa' (F)

Olea europaea 'Amygdalolia' (F)

Olea europaea 'Aragones' (F)

Olea europaea 'Arbequina' (F)

Olea europaea 'Askal'PBR

Olea europaea 'Bitsyoac'PBR (F)

Olea europaea 'Bouteillan' (F)

Olea europaea 'Cailletier' (F)

Olea europaea 'Cellina di Nardo' (F)

Olea europaea 'Chelsea Physic Garden' (F)

Olea europaea 'Cipressino' (F)

Olea europaea 'Coratina' (F)

Olea europaea 'Cornicabra' (F)

Olea europaea 'El Greco' (F)

Olea europaea 'Fastigiata' is a more upright and compact variant of the standard olive tree, reaching heights of up to 4 meters (13½ feet) with a spread of about 2 meters (6½ feet) after a decade. Its stems are adorned with evergreen, oval leaves that display a grey-green hue. In early summer, it produces clusters of small, cream-colored flowers that have a subtle fragrance. In warmer climates, this variety may yield green olives that ripen to a dark hue in autumn. This cultivar is known for its enhanced cold tolerance and ability to thrive in slightly shadier conditions compared to the standard olive species.

Olea europaea 'Fastigiata'

Olea europaea 'Frantoio' (F)

Olea europaea 'Giulia'

Olea europaea 'Gordal Sevillana'

Olea europaea 'Hojiblanca' (F)

Olea europaea 'Koroneiki' (F)

Olea europaea 'Lecciana'

Olea europaea 'Leccino' (F)

Olea europaea 'Manzanillo' (F)

Olea europaea 'Maurino' is an evergreen tree characterized by its greyish-green foliage and a subtly weeping growth habit. This cultivar hails from Tuscany and demonstrates resilience in cooler, windier climates. While it serves as a beneficial pollinator, it is primarily self-sterile and requires the presence of another olive tree to bear fruit. The olives produced are small but abundant, making them suitable for oil production.

Olea europaea 'Maurino' (F)

Olea europaea 'Peace' (F)

Olea europaea 'Pendolino' (F)

Olea europaea 'Picholine' (F)

Olea europaea 'Picual' (F)

Olea europaea 'Salonenque' is an evergreen tree characterized by its greyish-green foliage and large, fleshy olives that are harvested while still green for table use. This variety has partial self-fertility, so it benefits from having a pollination partner to enhance fruit production. It is more resilient in cooler climates compared to other olive varieties, but it is sensitive to windy conditions.

Olea europaea 'Salonenque' (F)

Olea europaea 'Sativa' is a perennial tree characterized by its coarse, deeply furrowed bark in mature specimens and a densely branched structure. It can grow to a height of approximately 9 meters (30 feet) and spread about 4.5 meters (15 feet) wide. The foliage consists of slender, oblong, grey-green leaves that can reach up to 7.5 centimeters (3 inches) in length. Tiny, cream-colored flowers, which are fluffy in appearance, emerge in racemes measuring up to 5 centimeters (2 inches) long from the leaf axils on last year’s growth. In warmer climates, the tree produces green olives during the summer months, which mature to a black hue in the autumn.

Olea europaea 'Sativa' (F)

Olea europaea 'Serrana del Espadán'

Olea europaea 'Serrana'

Olea europaea 'Sikitita'PBR

Olea europaea 'Vas One'PBR

Olea europaea 'Veronique'

Olea europaea 'Villalonga'

This species exhibits a robust, branching structure and grows slowly, reaching heights of 4.5 to 9 meters over time. The leaves are narrow and oval-shaped, measuring up to 7.5 centimeters in length, with a leathery texture and a silvery underside. Small white flowers appear in axillary racemes, extending up to 5 centimeters. Numerous cultivated varieties have emerged from Olea europaea, with some capable of producing fruit in the UK when conditions are suitable.